Rifle Scopes Reticle Question

[lionsden]

Probably a newb question but the search function came with no answers.

I have taken out my new setup (FN SPR A1 and IOR 3.5x18x50) and when im shooting at 100yds everything is fine, then when i go to 200yds the reticle starts to wash out. The first couple times it was warm and i thought maybe it was from mirage but last night it was in the 50's and a little overcast.

My buddy i was shooting with has a Leupold second focal scope and his reticle never moved at all, whereas mine right when i got on target the middle dot and the edges would blur. I know it wasnt the glass cause i could see my shots at 18x better than his bushnell spotting scope on 24x.

Is this normal with a FFP scope? Is it just my jacked up eyes?

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Reticle Question

Sounds kind of like a focus issue. Did you try adjusting the focus and what effect did that have on the image?

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Reticle Question

You have to remember. First, focus on your target. Second bring your reticle into focus on your target.

A lot of times what seems strong enough at 100 isn't strong enough farther out. Or, vice versa, depending on the scope.

I suggest you find the farthest target out that you will be shooting at and focus on it, then adjust your reticle so you can see it well enough at that range and leave it there. As you reduce power you should be able to see it then just fine.

<span style="color: #3333FF">Edit:

Something else to think about here. Do you just want to shoot long range or make it tactically applicable? In just shooting long range you would want the thinnest crosshairs you can get, or, get them to. In a tactical situation you want thinner crosshairs, but not so thin or faint you can't acquire a target immediately. You have to find that balance where you set them.</span>

 

[notquiteright]

Re: Reticle Question

I might be reading this wrong- are you saying the reticle washes out when superimposed on the target? Are you using 18X on the 200 yard targets?

What magnification was the loopy scope on?

The scope you have should have a reticle focus on the very back of the rear lens, like many binos have. That focuses the reticle, your side focus focuses the target.

Now 18X at 200 yards is a bit of overkill, many can use 10X easily. The problem might be you look past your reticle to see strike of round and while focusing on the target the reticle fades as it now is out of focus.

Try setting the mag to 10X. Concentrate on the reticle and not the target. You mention a spotter, let the spotter direct your fire and record your hits. The shooter CAN spot for himself but that can create as many problems as some think it solves.

What reticle are you using? Many thin line reticles can fade if stared at for a length of time or with certain backrounds/gloomy days.

Good Luck

Thought I'd throw in a reticle focusing technique taught at several schools. You want to use a neutral backround, a cloudless sky is prefered. You want to just glance at the reticle, lest yout eye focus to the reticle. Make adjustments and see if it improves or blurs the reticle. Once you find the sharpest focus for the reticle you dont mess with it again.

 

[lionsden]

Re: Reticle Question

Thanks for the ideas, I probably didnt elaborate enough. I was using 18X at both 100 and 200yds. At 100 I have no problems. When I moved to 200, I basically tries every combination of setting my parallax and my eye peice focus I could and nothing worked well. I could see the reticle fine for about a second or two and my once I got on target (which was mostly white and green) the reticle would fade/wash out.

The reticle itself is very thick for anyone familiar with the MP-8. Basically the dot in the middle and slightly around it would seemingly dissapear. I think maybe just giving my eyes a break to refocus could help but it was very frustrating at the range.

I will try next weekend to lower the mag but at 100yds it was fine. I even shot my best group of 5 shots at just over 3/8inch, but after 200yds i just got frustrated.

notquiteright- Thanks for the reticle focusing tip! I am going to try that as well as turning the magnification down.

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Reticle Question

Steve Mathizz,

I missed the part about the IOR. I have a fixed 10X IL. And yes they can look very clustered when focusing on the target. Also, That has the European style of focus on the rear optic. Not the side or front. Correct me if I'm wrong. But those are a difficult thing to get just right. The scope I mentioned is on my .308 Tactical. The dot in the middle of the MP-8 just about takes over all of the 1" white circle targets I shoot at @ 100 yds. At 300 I have to physically center it in the center of the 6" square.

So, what I did was zero it at the top of the upper 1/2 mil mark. I can just see both sides of the 1" circle from behind the vertical crosshair. And, the fine point of the crosshairs meeting instead of the 'DOT' is much easier to be precise with.

Also, note that 1/2 of a mil up (4.5") @ 300 still holds the kill zone on a man sized target very well. So, if in a hurry, the 'Center-mass/squeeze' which takes very little time can be used to full potential within 300 yds.
You could also just use the top of the dot.